INTRODUCTION
IN THE LITTLE CHURCH DOWN THE STREET
THE TWENTY-NINTH OF FEBRUARY
AT A PRIVATE VIEW
SPRING IN A SIDE STREET
A DECORATION-DAY REVERY
IN SEARCH OF LOCAL COLOR
BEFORE THE BREAK OF DAY
A MIDSUMMER MIDNIGHT
A VISTA IN CENTRAL PARK
THE SPEECH OF THE EVENING
A THANKSGIVING-DAY DINNER
IN THE MIDST OF LIFE
OUTLINES IN LOCAL COLOR AN INTERVIEW WITH MISS MARLENSPUYK
A LETTER OF FAREWELL
A GLIMPSE OF THE UNDER WORLD
A WALL STREET WOOING
A SPRING FLOOD IN BROADWAY
THE VIGIL OF McDOWELL SUTRO
AN IRREPRESSIBLE CONFLICT
THE SOLO ORCHESTRA
THE REHEARSAL OF THE NEW PLAY
A CANDLE IN THE PLATE
MEN AND WOMEN AND HORSES
IN THE WATCHES OF THE NIGHT
VIGNETTES OF MANHATTAN
OUTLINES IN LOCAL COLOR
Books by Brander Matthews
These Many Years, Recollections of a New Yorker
———
BIOGRAPHIES
Shakspere as a Playwright
MoliÈre, His Life and His Works
———
ESSAYS AND CRITICISMS
The Principles of Playmaking
French Dramatists of the 19th Century
Pen and Ink, Essays on subjects of more or less Importance
Aspects of Fiction, and other Essays
The Historical Novel, and other Essays
Parts of Speech, Essays on English
The Development of the Drama
Inquiries and Opinions
The American of the Future, and other Essays
Gateways to Literature, and other Essays
On Acting
A Book About the Theater
Essays on English
———
Vignettes of Manhattan; Outlines in Local Color
"PEOPLE WHO THRONGED THE FLOOR WERE WELLNIGH AS VARIOUS AS THE PAINTINGS"
"PEOPLE WHO THRONGED THE FLOOR WERE WELLNIGH AS VARIOUS AS THE PAINTINGS"
VIGNETTES OF MANHATTAN:
OUTLINES IN LOCAL COLOR
BY
BRANDER MATTHEWS
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
W. C. BROWNELL
ILLUSTRATED BY
W. T. SMEDLEY
NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
1921
COPYRIGHT 1894, 1897, BY
BRANDER MATTHEWS
——
COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
THE SCRIBNER PRESS
TO
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
My dear Theodore,—You know—for we have talked it over often enough—that I do not hold you to be a typical New-Yorker, since you come of Dutch stock, and first saw the light here on Manhattan Island, whereas the typical New-Yorker is born of New England parents, perhaps somewhere west of the Alleghanies. You know, also, that often the typical New-Yorker is not proud of the city of his choice, and not so loyal to it as we could wish. He has no abiding concern for this maligned and misunderstood town of ours; he does not thrill with pride at the sight of its powerful and irregular profile as he comes back to it across the broad river; nor is his heart lifted up with joy at the sound of its increasing roar, so suggestive and so stimulating. But we have a firm affection for New York, you and I, and a few besides; we like it for what it is; and we love it for what we hope to see it.
It is because of this common regard for our strange and many-sided city that I am giving myself the pleasure of proffering to you this little volume of vignettes. They are not stories really, I am afraid—not sketches even, nor studies; they are, I think, just what I have called them—vignettes. And then there are a dozen of them, one for every month in the year, an urban calendar of times and seasons. Such as they are, I beg that you will accept them in token of my friendship and esteem; and that you will believe me, always,
Yours truly,
BRANDER MATTHEWS
New York, May, 1894
"When I came to my chamber I writ down these minutes; but was at a loss what instruction I should propose to my readers from the enumeration of so many insignificant matters and occurrences; and I thought it of great use, if they could learn with me to keep their minds open to gratification, and ready to receive it from anything it meets with."
—STEELE, in "The Spectator," August 11, 1712.
